Thill-coupling.



No. 70H84. Patented May 27, |902.

J. p. ELLWANGER. THILL COUPLING.

\App1ca.tion filed Sept. 1B, 1901.! (No Model.)

UNirnn V STATES l RATENLTOFFICE.

JOI'IN D. ELLVVANGER, OF FRANKLIN, IOVA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,184, dated May 27, 1902. Application iiled September 16, 1901. Serial No. 75,58%. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. ELL'WANGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in r.Phill-Couplings, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in thill-couplings, and more wear can be quickly taken up `and provided for the ready and quick removal of the thill.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in whichl Figure 1 is a side elevation of the couplin g. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a plan view with the clamping mechanism removed,and Fig. t is a bottom plan view of the device.

Referring to said figures by numerals of reference, 1 is the base of a clip, provided with a curved upper portion 2, adapted to extend over the axle 3 andforked at its free end, as at el, for the reception of a vbolt 5, which is secured to the base 1 inv any suitable manner and provided with a'head 6,.which lies upon said fork, thereby permitting the upper portion to be firmly clamped upon the axle and providing for the ready and convenient removal of the clip when necessary or desirable, as when repairs are to be made to the axle. The clipis provided with a forward extension 7, grooved Within its upper and forward faces, as at 8, the walls of said groove being recessed near their outer ends at 9 for the reception of trunnions 10, formed upon the end of a thilliron 11. The end of this iron is adapted to rest wholly Within the groove 8, and by reason of trunnions 10 seating-within the recessed walls of said groove the thill may loe easily and quickly removed. An aperture or opening 12 is provided in the bottom of the groove or recess 8 at a point to the rear of the end of the thill-iron 11 and is adapted to ed end of the bolt 13 and is provided with a handle 18, whereby the same may be readily turned, causing the head 14 to firmly clamp the packing 16 upon the end of the thill-iron. A spring-metal catch or pawl 19 is pivoted to the bottom of the base 1 ofthe clip and engages' the `ratchet 17 and prevents the unscrewing thereof from the bolt. This pawl has an arm 20, which extends therefrom and abuts against `aprojection 21 upon the bottom of the base 1, which prevents the pawl19 from becoming disengaged from the ratchety 17, thereby preventing the ratchet-Wheel from Working loose upon the bolt 13. The arm 20 is provided with a head 22, whereby the same may be readily grasped by the hand and the arm moved out of contact with the projection 21 and the pawl thrown ont of engagement with its ratchet, leaving the ratchet-wheel free to be unscrewed from the bolt, whereby the head 14 may be removed to replace the material 16 or remove the thill from thecoupling. It will be seen by the construction of the head leyand the ratchet-wheel 17 that I reduce the number of parts to be removed in order to remove the thill or replace the material 16 to a minimum. By screwing the ratchet upon thebolt the wear upon the packing 16 may quickly be taken up.

It .will be readily seen from the accompanying drawings and above description of my invention that I provide an improved thillcoupling which embodies in its construction a perfect antirattler, a coupling which readily admits of the easy and quick removal of the thill and the clip from the axle.

In the foregoing description I'have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore IOG reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

The combination with a clip having a forked hooked end and a T-bolt for fastening said end to the remaining end of the clip of a recessed extension to the clip having grooves in the wallsv of the recess, a thill-iron, 'trunnions thereto bearing in the grooves, a bolt slidably mounted in the bottom of the recess, a concave head to said bolt and fitted in the recess above the 'chill-iron, packing secured to the concave face of the bolt-head and bear- W. I-I. VENN, C. A. WRAY. 

